Church Professionals Commission

The Purpose of Church Professionals:

To foster the faith and vitality of those who are called to professional ministry—pastors, associate pastors, designated pastors, interim pastors, honorably retired teaching elders, stated supply, temporary supply, teaching elders in specialized ministry, inquirers, candidates, commissioned ruling elders, certified Christian educators, and ministers at-large.

Members & Contacts

2023

2024

  • Rev. Ronald N. Johnson, Teaching Elder
  • Ms. Susan Dietz, Ruling Elder
  • Ms. Elizabeth E. Tietz, Commissioned Ruling Elder
  • Rev. Joel Esala, Teaching Elder

2025

  • Mr. Joseph Amponsah, Ruling Elder
  • Rev. Joon Won Lee, Teaching Elder
  • Rev. Charlotte O’Neil, Teaching Elder
  • Rev. Leland Platt, Teaching Elder

Forms

Date
Info

11/01/22
Call of Installed Pastor
11/01/22

08/01/22
Call to Associate Pastor
08/01/22

08/02/22
Call to Co-Pastor
08/02/22

08/03/22
Call to Designated Pastor
08/03/22

04/03/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Application
04/03/19

03/18/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Evaluation
Annual Report; Supervisor/Mentor Annual Report, & Session's Annual Report Forms
03/18/19

08/03/22
Covenant of Associate Transitional Pastor
08/03/22

08/03/22
Covenant of Contracted Pastoral Services
08/03/22

08/03/22
Covenant of Parish Associate
08/03/22

08/03/22
Covenant of Transitional Pastor
08/03/22

11/02/22
Covenant Stated-Supply Pastor
11/02/22

12/05/22
Pulpit Supply List
List by regions, honorarium is $150 for one service, or $200 for two services, plus mileage at the IRS rate.
12/05/22

Resources

Date
Info

05/18/22
2023 Minimum Compensation Guidelines
05/18/22

07/01/17
Commission for Church Professionals Responsibilities
07/01/17

07/01/17
Committee for Preparation on Ministry (CPM) Handbook
07/01/17

07/01/17
Dissolution of Pastoral Relationship
07/01/17

09/26/19
Guidelines for Ordination, Installation and Commissioning
09/26/19

12/05/22
Pulpit Supply List
List by regions, honorarium is $150 for one service, or $200 for two services, plus mileage at the IRS rate.
12/05/22

07/01/92
Seeking to Be Faithful
07/01/92

POLICIES

Date
Info

08/06/18
Authorization to Release Information
08/06/18

08/06/18
Background Check
08/06/18

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Policy
03/18/19

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder Training (CRE) Guidelines for Liaisons
03/18/19

07/01/17
Christian Educators
07/01/17

05/07/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Guidelines for Mentors/Supervisors
05/07/19

07/01/17
Full-Time and Part-Time Positions
07/01/17

07/01/17
Mentoring Program
07/01/17

12/06/22
Pastor’s Emergency Fund Policy
12/06/22

07/01/17
Policy – Childbearing and Child Rearing
07/01/17

07/01/17
Policy – Former Pastors
07/01/17

05/15/18
Policy – Leaves for Called Ministers
Approved 05-15-2018
05/15/18

03/03/20
Policy – Sabbatical Leave Policy
Approved February 18, 2020
03/03/20

04/14/21
Policy – Validated Ministry
Approved June 3, 2020
04/14/21

09/17/19
Policy on Dissolution of Pastoral Relationships
09/17/19

11/28/17
Policy- Healthy Boundaries 11-28-2017
Engaging church professionals in understanding & maintaining healthy boundaries in ministry.
11/28/17

07/01/17
Receiving Non PCUSA Ministers
07/01/17

07/01/17
Reference Release
07/01/17

11/27/18
Sexual Misconduct Policy
approved November 27, 2018
11/27/18

PROFESSIONAL Support

An annual church retreat is held in the fall to provide pastors and church professionals:

  • Educational support
  • Spiritual retreat
  • Sense of community

Healthy Boundaries

For over three decades, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has acknowledged that sexual misconduct and exploitation have existed in its churches and among its members. Healthy Boundaries presents a positive approach to professional conduct and responsibilities. Periodic Healthy Boundaries training is required for all Church Professionals.

PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY

Care Task Team:
Rev. Jeff Jaynes, Chair

  • Inquirer intake interviews
  • Midwest career assessments
  • Communications with general assembly
  • Liaison to inquirers and candidates
  • Annual consultants with inquirers and candidates
  • Annual consultations with inquirers and candidates
  • Guiding individual candidates processes

Examination and Credentials Task Team:

  • Inquirer to candidate examinations
  • Clearing candidates
  • Examine pastors entering presbytery and from other denominations
  • Ordination exams/proctors/readers
  • Standards for ordination process

Care of Church Professionals Task Team:

  • Mentor new pastors
  • Liaison to pastors
  • Pastor support team

certified ruling elders

The CRE program is an expansion of the church’s mission in a changing world. The ministry of Commissioned Pastors brings a marvelous richness to a congregation’s ministry and to the Presbytery’s mission. Commissioned Pastors are partners in mission as we seek to bring the good news of Christ to an ever-changing culture.

Although many CREs serve as part time pastors of small churches, there are other roles to which a person might be commissioned such as a parish associate or a member of a ministry team.

The program consists of core courses, practice of ministry courses and a nine month supervised field education experience, alternative clinical experience, communication and training on ethics and healthy boundaries.

Date
Info

04/03/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Application
04/03/19

05/05/22
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Brochure
05/05/22

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Course Guidelines
03/18/19

07/01/17
Certified Ruling Elder (CRE) Personal Information Form
07/01/17

03/18/19
Certified Ruling Elder Training (CRE) Guidelines for Liaisons
03/18/19

03/18/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Evaluation
Annual Report; Supervisor/Mentor Annual Report, & Session's Annual Report Forms
03/18/19

03/18/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Field Education Guidelines
03/18/19

05/07/19
Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE) Guidelines for Mentors/Supervisors
05/07/19

08/02/22
Covenant of Ruling Elder Commissioned (CRE) to Pastoral Service
08/02/22